January 2016 Convocation

New Law Practice Coach and Advisor program approvedA new law practice coaching and advisory initiative, approved by Convocation,
will assist in the development of competent legal professionals by supporting
the growing need in the professions for short-term advisor supports addressing
file-specific and substantive/procedural matters, and longer term coaching
supports to foster best practices.

The initiative will be voluntary
and will evolve over time through ongoing engagement with the profession, and
co-ordination and collaboration with existing mentor and advisory service
programs. To facilitate implementation, the Law Society will establish a
dedicated and separate coach and advisor unit. The initiative will be open to
all lawyers and paralegals, but will initially focus on communities with
particular needs for support, such as new, racialized and sole- and small-firm
lawyers and paralegals. All participants in the program will be eligible to
claim all 12 required CPD Hours annually. Full
report.

Annual General Meeting taking place May 11The Law Society’s 2016 Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday,
May 11 at 5:15 p.m., at Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen St. W., Toronto.

Conduct rules amended re: retired judges returning to practiceThe
Rules of Professional Conduct were amended to provide that lawyers who
previously served as judges on the Superior Court of Justice and who return to
practise and plan to appear as counsel or advocate in any court, or before an
administrative board or tribunal, must now apply to the Law Society for
approval. The Rules were also amended to replace the phrase “committee
of Convocation appointed for the purpose” with “panel of the Hearing Division
of the Law Society Tribunal” to reflect Convocation’s earlier designation for
the committee. Full
report.

Tribunal Model Three-Year Review Report
receivedConvocation received a report from the Tribunal Committee on
its three-year review of the new Tribunal model, adopted in 2012. The new model
included the establishment of a full-time, independent Chair and was focused on
enhancing transparency and quality of adjudication, as well as improving cost
effectiveness. The Committee concluded that the new model, reflecting the goals
set by Convocation, is in the public interest, promotes a fair process for
licensees and applicant licensees involved with it and is being well received
by stakeholders. Full
report.

AppointmentsBencher Janis Criger was
appointed to the Access to Justice Committee. Bencher Michelle Haigh was
appointed to the Law Society Awards/LLD Advisory Committee.